THIRD ACCUSER STEPS FORWARD

Psychologist says Filner repeatedly tried to kiss her during meeting

McCormack Jackson filed a lawsuit Monday accusing Filner and the city of sexual harassment. She alleges that the mayor repeatedly made unwanted sexual advances toward her and put her in a headlock on several occasions so she couldn’t get away. He also made suggestive comments such as “Wouldn’t it be great if you took off your panties and worked without them on?”

Laura Fink, who served as Filner’s congressional deputy campaign manager, described a 2005 incident in which Filner touched her inappropriately at a fundraising event. She told KPBS on Tuesday that a supporter told Filner that Fink had been working her butt off for him. Filner asked Fink to turn around. When she did, he patted her posterior and said, “No, it’s still there.”

Fink documented her embarrassment and frustration shortly afterward in an email to Filner and Tony Buckles, his congressional chief of staff at the time, and demanded an apology. She said Filner later gave a halfhearted apology.

In a statement Wednesday, Fink said she decided to come forward to add her voice to those calling on Filner to resign.

“It is my sincerest hope that my one small action will make San Diego a safer place to work and serve as an example or source of strength for other women to step forward in cases of sexual harassment — both with regard to Mayor Bob Filner and in the workplace generally,” she said.

Fink’s story may have also led to the most recent shake-up in the Filner administration Wednesday, as the mayor lost his second chief of staff in as many weeks.

Buckles is out after 10 days on the job and will be replaced by Lee Burdick, an attorney and former port commissioner who has been serving as Filner’s deputy chief of staff.

Buckles flew to San Diego from Washington, D.C., to aid his longtime boss after Vince Hall resigned as chief of staff July 12.

In a statement Wednesday, Filner said Buckles had been only a temporary hire while the staff was in transition. There was no previous indication despite the July 15 hiring announcement making clear at least one other new hire was on an interim basis. Had he stayed on, Buckles likely would have faced scrutiny over what he knew about Filner’s past behavior and what he did about it in light of Fink’s 2005 email.

Burdick has been the highest-ranking woman in the Mayor’s Office since Filner took office in December. Her ascension to top aide will require logistic planning because of the city’s new policy that Filner can’t be alone with a woman on city property. As chief of staff, she will be tasked with enforcing that rule while also not being allowed to be alone with him herself.

“After serious introspection, I must step forward to help the city through these challenging times,” Burdick said in a statement.

The times for Filner will get more challenging.

The San Diego County Democratic Party’s central committee will meet to discuss whether to call for Filner’s resignation at 6:30 p.m. today at party headquarters, 8340 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. The committee last Thursday deadlocked in a 24-24 vote on the issue after an emotionally charged session. That vote was when the allegations against Filner remained anonymous.